Roof Rack wind deflector

[Backwoods Rambler]

I had a custom roof rack built and now I need to make a wind deflector for it. What are you all using? I'm not having trouble finding material that's 48" wide, but all of what I'm finding so far is VERY expensive! I have it in my head that I should be able to pull this off for around $30, but I'm struggling with that goal.

Thanks in advance for the advice!




Key Words: screen, deflector, visor, fairing, etc...

 

[freshspecbluegt]

I would think polycarbonate sheet or really any plastic would work. Have you looked at McMaster Carr?

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-plastic-sheets/=nahg5v

shipping might be a deal breaker for a 48" material

good luck.

 

[western flyer]

I made a fairing for my ancient Confer rack years ago from a left over Yakima fairing (sheet only) I had sitting around from my days managing bike shops. Note that if the base of your deflector touches the paint on the vehicle roof it will likely vibrate the paint off, even if you have some nice soft feet. I used a soft rubber hose (with a split down one side) on the base of the fairing sheet as a cushion, but it still wore the paint off.

Sorry, I don't have a line on cheap sheet material.

http://www.bikesomewhere.com/Yakima...d=1891762853&gclid=CIHY5-DP9bcCFe9xQgod7XgATw

 

[newtomelx]

I have yet to try this myself so not 100% sure it will work but it has some possibilities. I removed the OEM roof rack as well as the rear deflector and threw the rack away but the deflector caught my eye as a possible wing to "deflect" the wind at the front of the roof rack. Have you or anyone else ever considered this? It has the countersunk holes in it so it should be fairly easy to fab two brackets that bolt on the rack as well as to the deflector.

 

[Backwoods Rambler]

I would think polycarbonate sheet or really any plastic would work. Have you looked at McMaster Carr?

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-plastic-sheets/=nahg5v

shipping might be a deal breaker for a 48" material

good luck.

This looks like my solution, but when placing my order, I don't see any shipping fees. I haven't completed the order yet. I saved it.

EDIT: You have to call them for shipping quotes according to the employee I spoke with.

For my order it's $6.00. That's for a 4"x48" bar of Clear Impact-Resistant Polycarbonate

 

[Backwoods Rambler]

... Note that if the base of your deflector touches the paint on the vehicle roof it will likely vibrate the paint off, even if you have some nice soft feet. I used a soft rubber hose (with a split down one side) on the base of the fairing sheet as a cushion, but it still wore the paint off.

I figured I'd have to get creative with the vehicle side.

 

[western flyer]

I figured I'd have to get creative with the vehicle side.

If I do it again I will set the fairing up so it is well supported while at speed and sits proud of the top of the roof by a half inch or so. That way it will not contact the roof paint.

 

[alia176]

Another idea to guard against paint fading is to place the wind fairing on the leading edge of the roof, against the top of the windshield. It you can curve it to match the windshield, that ends up looking quite nice.

If you can't find decently priced poly-carbonate or any other composite material, perhaps a thicker piece of 16 gauge (or thicker) sheet metal, painted to suit?

 

[Backwoods Rambler]

I went with McMaster Carr. I like the idea of coming off of the windshield, but my rack doesn't come that far forward.

I'm thinking maybe some adhesive rubber directly to the roof so that the fairing rests on that.

 

[Timpanogos Slim]

WWW.onlinemetals.com is a good source too. They also sell plastic.

 

[western flyer]

I went with McMaster Carr. I like the idea of coming off of the windshield, but my rack doesn't come that far forward.

I'm thinking maybe some adhesive rubber directly to the roof so that the fairing rests on that.

I like that idea of coming off the windshield as well.

The idea of using a protector for the paint is a good one. Just be aware that that rack and fairing will vibrate compared to the body (think washboard), and the constant friction (particularly when dusty) will burn through some protectors pretty fast. What about the 3M material some dealers use under hood protectors?

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Scotchgard_Paint_Protection/Film/

 

[MANUCHAO]

If you can't find decently priced poly-carbonate or any other composite material, perhaps a thicker piece of 16 gauge (or thicker) sheet metal, painted to suit?

I did this ^^^ used a piece of 16g metal it is 51"s across and it runs from the roof to just about 1" above the roof top tent to deflect all the bugs and wind noise.

I'm thinking maybe some adhesive rubber directly to the roof so that the fairing rests on that.

If you are building the roof rack you should implement enough material to add (weld) the fearing into place.

I used weather strip the really dense foam type from Autozone and it has held well over two years now under the SurCal sun...

 

[gofast]

Mines made out of 1/4 aluminum.

It was added after the rack was built so there are brackets that allow it to bolt it to bolt to the roof rack.

Sits about an inch off the windshield rubber. Night and day difference - no more howling

Strong enough for branches too.

[/URL][/IMG]